Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Thursday's Forecast
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Snow and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
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Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Snow and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 12th March 2026
Last updated
Wed 11th Mar 26 at
12:53PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Severe gale or storm force upland winds ahead of an active slowly southeastward moving front, which will bring widespread heavy rain and fog to almost all mountain areas. Across Scotland, behind the front, squally hail and snow showers.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Upland severe gales; snow and hail showers.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Storm force winds overnight. After dawn, soon southwesterly 50 to 65mph; gusty near showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions, mobility challenging over exposed terrain. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Persistent rain clearing to snow and hail showers
Very wet underfoot (least wet toward Deeside) from heavy rain, finishing as snow from west to 600m late morning. Then showers, sometimes frequent with, hail and above 500m snow.
Cloud on the hills?
Nearly always covering higher mountains: quickly varying cloud base
Rapidly varying cloud base: typically between 750 and 1000m, or in afternoon near and east of Braemar 1100m. Near precipitation, abruptly 700m, sometimes patches at 500m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun - sometimes more frequent bursts of sun toward Deeside. Visibility intermittently very good, but abruptly poor or appalling in precipitation.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Soon -1C. Will feel as cold as minus -18C directly in wind.
Freezing Level
Above 1000m before dawn, soon 750m.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 13th March 2026
Last updated
Wed 11th Mar 26 at
12:53PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly varying through day between 35 and 55mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging walking conditions over the mountains, sometimes general mobility may be a struggle. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Hail and snow showers
Showers with hail most frequent near and west of the A9, locally may cluster together for an hour or more; also snow falling toward lower elevations in morning, then mostly rain below 400m.
Cloud on the hills?
Very extensive on higher areas; cloud base varying
Often capping western areas toward Ben Alder above 800-1000m, some breaks higher up. Patchy cloud likely to come and go above 1000m elsewhere, briefly lower in showers, but frequently above tops east.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of sun west, or more frequent bright sun toward Deeside. Visibility often excellent eastern areas, but most often west A9, at times very poor in snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Around -2C. Will feel as cold as minus 16C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Typically 600-700m.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 14th March 2026
Last updated
Wed 11th Mar 26 at
12:53PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly, strengthening through day from around 40 to 55mph. May strengthen further toward dusk.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous or on higher areas difficult walking all day. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Hail and snow showers
Hail and snow showers, although often dry toward Deeside.
Cloud on the hills?
Almost constantly covering higher mountains
Varied cloud base: sometimes below 600m near precipitation but periods when most cloud above 900 to 1100m. Highest cloud bases will be on N Cairngorms and Deeside.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun, perhaps patchwork of sun Deeside. Mostly very good visibility although slight haze.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C. Will feel as cold as minus 14C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
600m
Planning Outlook
Further bouts of upland gales over the next few days. Precipitation on most mountains almost daily, focussed on western mountains. Freeze thaw cycles will occur: on the Scottish Highlands, thaw periods fairly brief and snow accumulating on many slopes. Further south, lying snow more intermittent as periods of thaw will be lengthier. Temperature levels will rise from about next Tuesday.